Open world/sandbox/nonlinear games

[Severian Silk]

Can you guys think of examples that fit in one section but not the others?

[edit]

Update:

 

[Hoaxmetal]

 

[Excidium II]

AC/GTA clones? They're open world but progression is still linear and you don't have much freedom for it to qualify as "sandbox"

 

[Severian Silk]

AC/GTA clones? They're open world but progression is still linear and you don't have much freedom for it to qualify as "sandbox"

Good example. Is "AC" supposed to be Assassin's Creed?

 

[Excidium II]

Good example. Is "AC" supposed to be Assassin's Creed?

Yeah.

 

[Severian Silk]

What about Minecraft? You can go anywhere (open world), build shit and shape the environment (sandbox), but has no story or plot that can be considered "non-linear".

 

[AlexOfSpades]

Thief: Deadly Shadows attempted to be open world. It is still linear, however.

 

[Excidium II]

What about Minecraft? You can go anywhere (open world), build shit and shape the environment (sandbox), but has no story or plot.

So it's all 3?

 

[Severian Silk]

So it's all 3?

I don't think so.

[edit]

Fallout is an open world and non-linear. But not a sandbox, correct?

 

[a Goat]

Mount and Blade in the middle.

 

[Severian Silk]

Mount and Blade in the middle.

Mount & Blade has no story last time I played. Good suggestion though.

[edit]

What about Expeditions: Conquistador or Sid Meier's Pirates? On the other hand, in EC you only build a single fortress.

[edit]

Whatever. I will use them as examples.

 

[Maschtervoz]

So, explain something to me: how can a sandbox game not have nonlinear gameplay? I can understand how a game like Fallout has nonlinear gameplay, but is not considered a sandbox because it still has a clearly defined endgoal. I can't wrap my head around the opposite. Or is non-linear gameplay supposed to imply having some sort of plot/objective that progresses in a freeform fashion? Then maybe nonlinear gameplay is not the best term to use, as it seems to refer to a certain kind of systems design: you are given a set of tools and are free to fuck around with them in whatever way you see fit, regardless of whether there is an endgoal or not. So non linear progression or something like that would be a better choice. Or am I just being

here?

 

[Severian Silk]

So, explain something to me: how can a sandbox game not have nonlinear gameplay? I can understand how a game like Fallout has nonlinear gameplay, but is not considered a sandbox because it still has a clearly defined endgoal. I can't wrap my head around the opposite. Or is non-linear gameplay supposed to imply having some sort of plot/objective that progresses in a freeform fashion? Then maybe nonlinear gameplay is not the best term to use, as it seems to refer to a certain kind of systems design: you are given a set of tools and are free to fuck around with them in whatever way you see fit, regardless of whether there is an endgoal or not. So non linear progression or something like that would be a better choice. Or am I just being

here?

Good question. By "nonlineat gameplay" I mean story or level progression. I.e. branching story or missions. Forget the "gameplay" part. It's misleading.

 

[A horse of course]

I'm not clear on how you're defining sandbugz. The ability to build things?

 

[Severian Silk]

I'm not clear on how you're defining sandbugz. The ability to build things?

Manipulate the environment, yes.

 

[Crooked Bee]

CYOAs or RPGs with different routes (but not open-world or sandbox) fit into "non-linear progression".

Examples: Age of Decadence, SMT: Devil Survivor, visual novels

 

[Severian Silk]

CYOAs or RPGs with different routes (but not open-world or sandbox) fit into "non-linear progression".

Examples: Age of Decadence, SMT: Devil Survivor, visual novels

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[ZerFunk]

Cubeworld is a non linear sandbox, its trash tho

 

[CryptRat]

I assume a (space?) 4X where you would need certain technologies to reach certain parts of the world would be non linear sandbox. I don't know if such a game exists since I have mostly plays some Civilizations (navigation doesn't count, or does it?) and Galactic civilizations.

 

[zeitgeist]

What about Terraria? It's obviously both open world and sandbox, but I'm not sure about your definition of non-linear progression. You can progress through various equipment in different ways, sometimes skipping tiers, but sometimes they're needed for the next upgrade, you can kill some bosses out of order, but some are absolutely needed for the next world state, and so on. Would that be non-linear enough despite still having at least some kind of an intended order of progression or not?